CONSULAR NOTARIZATION

As the Philippines is now an official member of the Apostille Convention, there are now two primary options for notarizing private documents for use in the Philippines: (1) by notarization at the Philippine Embassy or (2) through the Apostille process.

CONSULAR NOTARIZATION

The Embassy can notarize private documents such as affidavits, special power of attorney, general power of attorney, affidavit, certification, deed of donation, deed of sale, extra-judicial settlement of estate, and insurance forms. The notarized document will have a covering page (Notarial Certificate) bearing the seal of the Embassy and the signature of the consular officer. 

Since the Embassy will verify the signer’s identity and understanding of a document’s contents, personal appearance of all signatories is required. Once notarized, the private document can now be used in the Philippines. The document cannot be used in other countries.

The Embassy cannot notarize the following documents:

1. Documents issued by government agencies, whether Philippine or foreign
2. Photocopied documents
3. Corporate documents
4. Documents intended for countries other than the Philippines
5. Documents that will be used within the United States

 APOSTILLE—THE EASIER WAY
Apostille is a faster and easier alternative to authenticate your documents for use in the Philippines without having to travel to Washington DC. All countries and territories under the Embassy’s jurisdiction, except Haiti, are members of the Apostille Convention. This means that a document bearing an apostille certificate from these countries will be recognized in the Philippines.

While the Philippine Embassy can only notarize private documents, your local Secretary of State, or other competent authority can issue apostille certificates for private documents, government-issued documents, and business-related documents.

Requirements vary from country to country, and in the United States, from state to state, but in general, the process for private documents goes like this:

Step 1: Have your document notarized by a local notary public

Step 2: Submit the document to the Competent Authority to get an apostille

Step 3:  Use the document in the Philippines for its intended purpose

Click to see the list of designated competent authorities in your state.

NOTE: Since Haiti is not yet a signatory to the Apostille Convention, documents from Haiti will still need to be notarized by a notary public, authenticated by the appropriate agency in the host country, and authenticated by the Philippine Embassy.